Did Coventry & other NCL 3 sides not participate in the KO Cups this year?

No, they weren't invited into the NCL Cup and weren't eligible for the Tier 4 cup. In reality they are probably closer in standard to the top Tier 4 sides from the regional leagues than the tier 4 southern sides are..

No, they weren't invited into the NCL Cup and weren't eligible for the Tier 4 cup. In reality they are probably closer in standard to the top Tier 4 sides from the regional leagues than the tier 4 southern sides are..

Yeah though they're also a similar standard to at least division 2 of the NCL with the top 3 or 4 division 1 comparable (looking at Dewsbury Celtic as the guide). Hopefully next year they'll have a less anomalous format. If that means more northern teams in the Community Shield then so be it.

Yeah though they're also a similar standard to at least division 2 of the NCL with the top 3 or 4 division 1 comparable (looking at Dewsbury Celtic as the guide). Hopefully next year they'll have a less anomalous format. If that means more northern teams in the Community Shield then so be it.

I was rather looking forward to seeing how the likes of Coventry and Hemel would have gone up against against some of the stronger established northern clubs in the CS. Now you both may well by-pass it if both your CC1 aspirations are realised. In 2013 may well see Bristol and St Albans give it a go?

This transitional season a bit chaotic for the community game but it was I think expected especially for the south & midlands with four clubs bidding for semi-pro basis straight away and leaving other newly arrived NCL 3 a bit in limbo. But may be thats unavoidable as clubs develop at different speeds. The old RLSC structure needs re-assessing and a fresh focus for 2013?

"Just as we had been Cathars, we were treizistes, men apart."Jean Roque, Calendrier-revue du Racing-Club Albigeois, 1958-1959

"It involves matters much greater than drafting the new rules...the original and existing games have their own powerful appeal to their players and public and have the sentiments which history inspires"Harold 'Jersey' Flegg 1933

I was rather looking forward to seeing how the likes of Coventry and Hemel would have gone up against against some of the stronger established northern clubs in the CS. Now you both may well by-pass it if both your CC1 aspirations are realised. In 2013 may well see Bristol and St Albans give it a go?

This transitional season a bit chaotic for the community game but it was I think expected especially for the south & midlands with four clubs bidding for semi-pro basis straight away and leaving other newly arrived NCL 3 a bit in limbo. But may be thats unavoidable as clubs develop at different speeds. The old RLSC structure needs re-assessing and a fresh focus for 2013?

The CS was never intended to have NCL3 clubs in, the latter should have played Conference Challenge Cup. As for Bristol and St Albans depends on league structure what cup they'll be in.

If Coventry and when Nottingham enter the NCL next year (or any other expansion clubs if any get in) they'll play in the cup there. If there's a Conference South (very unlikely given the lack of interest in London) then the clubs in it wouldn't play CS. The Midlands and South premiers have failed but this format of 2 tiny leagues is perhaps the least awful option. Bristol and St Albans may well be forced back into it giving 6 teams each unless they can be accomodated at tier 3 level? Will South Wales Hornets even be accomodated anywhere?

With 18 clubs applying for the NCL who knows there may well survive a NCL 4 based on this year's NCL3 but seems unlikely on the face of it that clubs from the North West would prefer it to their own tier 4 league.

As for 4 teams bidding for Championship 1 I think it's more a case of the RFL dreaming up a number to suit the Championship and then trying to make things fit to salvage Championship 1 rather than the other way round. Hemel are ready. Coventry I don't know. All Golds and Rebels are no better than the 1980s failed attempts IMO. If there was a smoother transition between Championship 1 and the NCL then would be much easier.

The CS was never intended to have NCL3 clubs in, the latter should have played Conference Challenge Cup. As for Bristol and St Albans depends on league structure what cup they'll be in.

If Coventry and when Nottingham enter the NCL next year (or any other expansion clubs if any get in) they'll play in the cup there. If there's a Conference South (very unlikely given the lack of interest in London) then the clubs in it wouldn't play CS. The Midlands and South premiers have failed but this format of 2 tiny leagues is perhaps the least awful option. Bristol and St Albans may well be forced back into it giving 6 teams each unless they can be accomodated at tier 3 level? Will South Wales Hornets even be accomodated anywhere?

With 18 clubs applying for the NCL who knows there may well survive a NCL 4 based on this year's NCL3 but seems unlikely on the face of it that clubs from the North West would prefer it to their own tier 4 league.

As for 4 teams bidding for Championship 1 I think it's more a case of the RFL dreaming up a number to suit the Championship and then trying to make things fit to salvage Championship 1 rather than the other way round. Hemel are ready. Coventry I don't know. All Golds and Rebels are no better than the 1980s failed attempts IMO. If there was a smoother transition between Championship 1 and the NCL then would be much easier.

Thanks for that.

If your club don't make CC1 do you not feel Coventry & Nottingham have some obligation to a Conference South and try and pull the likes of Leicester, Northampton, Gloucester, Bristol, St Albans, Hammersmith, Eastern Rhinos et al up to your level.

"Just as we had been Cathars, we were treizistes, men apart."Jean Roque, Calendrier-revue du Racing-Club Albigeois, 1958-1959

"It involves matters much greater than drafting the new rules...the original and existing games have their own powerful appeal to their players and public and have the sentiments which history inspires"Harold 'Jersey' Flegg 1933

If your club don't make CC1 do you not feel Coventry & Nottingham have some obligation to a Conference South and try and pull the likes of Leicester, Northampton, Gloucester, Bristol, St Albans, Hammersmith, Eastern Rhinos et al up to your level.

Not really. Even with us Conference South probably would struggle to get 10 teams and the standard would be too low with the same amount of travelling.

Think that's a bit harsh - although we all agree notts / cov are playing a higher league right now they're not light years apart - I personally think hhh etc are at a decent level whilst the Rhonos taught us a lesson earlier this year and we've applied to come up

Think that's a bit harsh - although we all agree notts / cov are playing a higher league right now they're not light years apart - I personally think hhh etc are at a decent level whilst the Rhonos taught us a lesson earlier this year and we've applied to come up

Perhaps but there still would be a shortage of teams and the London clubs probably won't get behind it. I still think it would be to the detriment of our club to enter an experimental league that might not get us off the ground. HHH are a good side on the pitch that could hopefully be brought on side to such a league.

If Nottingham and the London clubs were behind it then I think it could work for us but it's more likely we'd end up in a midlands premier plus a couple of others. Which more or less would be the demise of the club and a mass exodus to Nottingham.

The RFL have been trying to create a Converence South type league since 2006 and getting nowhere and all the reports would suggest this time will be no different. You and Leicester are a reasonable standard but would be a joke if we had to play weaker teams. We also don't really fancy an 8 team short season league as would likely be the case.

Think that's a bit harsh - although we all agree notts / cov are playing a higher league right now they're not light years apart - I personally think hhh etc are at a decent level whilst the Rhonos taught us a lesson earlier this year and we've applied to come up

Actually when you say you've applied is that only for a southern division or would you play nationally? Guess if Bristol can still be accomodated nationally they could probably tag you and maybe Leicester onto the current premier south as it's not too far.

I've watched them 3 times this summer and thought they where fair but physical, the first time was in a local Derby against Cutsyke and for 40 minutes Cutsyke where the better side but never managed to pull away from them, the next 20 minutes was even and I think the score was pretty even, Cutsyke fell off the pace for the last 20 minutes and Fryston opened them up.

If Fryston have a full side out you will have to play for the full 80 at a decent pace, if not hope for a bad day for them, 50/50 calls and the rub of the green.

Carlsberg don't do Soldiers, but if they did, they would probably be Brits.